Nick Moore has won the NCGA PubLinks Championship
(NCGA Photo)

A day after taking the lead at Poppy Hills Golf Course with a 1-over 72, Moore shot a 3-over 75 at Bayonet Golf Course and defeated three other players in a tight sudden-death playoff to capture his third NCGA Public Links Championship title.

The win was Moore’s sixth career NCGA title, tying him with five other players for the fifth most NCGA men’s (non-Senior) championship crowns. The only players ahead of Moore are leader Casey Boyns (16), Randy Haag (15) and Talbert Smith and Scott Hardy (7). The victory also moved Moore to within one of Boyns’ record four Public Links crowns.

“This was my most difficult win,” said a relieved Moore, who nearly missed his first round tee time after being involved in a car accident on his way to Pebble Beach. “I had the whole incident yesterday and my back was feeling tight. I wasn’t at 100 percent, but I kept reminding myself, ‘I just want to leave it all on the table.’ I feel like I did a good job of not giving up.”

Joining Moore in what was a four-man playoff after the quartet all finished regulation at 4-over 147 were Stephen Perez, Aleksei Koika and Junior Tour of Northern California member Jeremy Villafuerte. When Moore and Perez both birdied the first hole, Koika and Villafuerte were eliminated.

From there, Perez, who was making his NCGA debut, and Moore dueled four more holes. On the fifth playoff hole (No.2), Perez pulled his drive left into the trees. His second shot hit a tree and nearly came right back to him. Moore, who was in the trees on the left, managed to get up-and-down for bogey, while Perez would end up with a double-bogey after missing a 10-foot putt.

“I was in another world during the playoff,” said Moore of his focus. “I was impressed with Stephen. He showed no signs of nerves and looked confident. It exaggerated that I had to be confident in myself. I knew I’d have to earn it.”

Moore had been in the pressure cooker before. When he won Player of the Year honors in 2015, he’d secure the title by capturing the Valley Am after surviving a grueling 9-hole playoff in nearly 100 degree heat. In order for Moore to have won Player of the Year honors, he had to win the Valley Am title.

Early in the round, it appeared that it wouldn’t be Moore’s day. He’d begin the day with a front-nine 40 after making four bogeys.

His fortunes turned when his girlfriend, Victoria Dibert, began caddying for him starting on the back-nine. The results were immediate, as Moore birdied both No.10 and No.11. Dibert has looped for Moore in all three of his Public Links wins.

“Without her, I probably would not have won,” Moore said. “This win is as much hers as it is mine.”

Perez, playing out of Dragonfly GC, had earlier made the biggest move of the day by posting a 1-under 71. It was the only under-par score posted over both rounds.